Idea Cellular to stop charging differential data tariff for different regions 

For sustenance in the cut-throat competition as regards tariffs, telecom operator Idea Cellular has launched open market data recharges of 1 GB and above on the company's 2G, 3G and 4G network as a standard plan across the nation. The telecom operator will not charge different prices for different regions from March 31, 2017.    

Currently the Company has different tariff plans for different regions in the internet plans' segment.   

Looking for an edge in the stiff competition, especially from the slashed price plans of Reliance Jio, Idea has pulled down its rates for the 4G mobile data service significantly, as compared to the company's rates for the 2G data services. 

The company provides 1GB of 2G data service for Rs 170, whereas, the same amount of 4G data service is priced at Rs 123 for a validity period of one month.

Previously the prices of high speed data plans were sky rocketing, based on the plans' speed of downloading. However, the higher speed data plans get exhausted sooner than the low speed ones like the 2G data services, thereby eventually digging into the pockets of customers. 

According to the newly launched data plans, customers may choose the tariff plans according to their usage and volume available in the plan, without much consideration of the device that the customer uses. Further the company has planned to standardise the prices of its data products like sachets and freedom packs in phases, across the nation, by May 2017.    

The company covers over 4 lakh towns and villages across India under its 2G data coverage, whereas, its high speed network spans across the nation's length and breadth. 

While the company's customer base has been enabled to migrate services without considering the differences in its tariff plans and data charges.